Latching device



March 28, 1950 R. H, MORROW 2,502,168

' ILATCHING DEVICE Filed March 29, 1948 Fig.l. Fig.2.

Robert H. Morrow INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 28, 1950 2,502,168 LATCHING DEVICE Robert H. Morrow, Harrlman, Tenn., asslgnor of one-third to William C. Morrow and one-third to Theodore R. Morrow, both of Harrlman,

' Tenn.

Application March 29, 1948, Serial No. 17,630 3 Claims. (Cl. 74-537) This invention relates to new and useful improvements-and structural refinements in latchinq devices, more specifically, latching devices involving a pivoted lever movable over a toothed sector, and the principal object of the invention is to substantially simplify the structure of the latch by eliminating a variety of conventionally employed components, such as for example, pawls, bolts, rivets, screws, and the like.

This object is achieved by the provision of a latching device which simply includes in its construction a spring pressed latch plateslidable in openings provided in the lever and engageable with the teeth of the sector, nothing more than a hammer being required to install the latch assembly in position.

An important feature of the invention resides, as aforesaid, in its simplicity of construction, dependability in operation, and ease of manufacture.

With the above more important objects and features in view, and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fi ure 1 is a front elevational view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a lever used in the invention; and, V

Figure 5 is an elevational detail view of a latch plate used therein, the same being shown prior to its application to the lever.

ike characters of reference are em loyed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.v

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of a latching device or mechanism designated generally by the reference character ID, the same being intended for use in association with a lever I2 pivoted as at M and movable over a toothed 20 is provided, so as to assist in retaining the 26, and it ,is to be noted that the portion 24 of the s1ot.22 extends at one side thereof to the edge 26, in the manner of a slit, so to speak, whereby a portion 28 of the plate 20 (adjacent the aforementioned slit and at one side of the slot 22) assumes the form of what may be referred to as a bendable or a defiectable keeper 28.

On the other hand, the lever I2 is provided with an elongated opening 30, one end of which terminates in a notch 32 of relatively restricted width, while a recess 34 is formed in the lever adjacent the remaining end of the opening 30, as is best shown in Figure 4.

It should be understood that the plate 20, when supplied, assumes the open configuration shown in Figure 5, and when the invention is placed in use, this plate is simoly applied to the lever l2 so that it is slidably disposed in the notch 32 and in the recess 34, as shown in Figure 3. The slot 22 accommodates a compression spring 36, one end of which bears against the lever l2 while its remaining end bears against the plate 20 at the closed end 38 of the opening 22, as will be readily understood. The portion of the lever l2 engaged by the spring 3: is at one end of the opening 30, as indicated a 40.

To complete the installation of the latching device, the keeper 28 is simply hammered toward the lever l2 to a position indicated'in Figure 3, and, if desired, a cotter Pin 42 may be inserted in a suitable aperture 44 with which the plate plate in position on the lever.

The plate 20 is, of course, slidably disposed on the lever, and includes a projection or protuberance 46 which is disposed at one side of the sector l6 while an adjacent portion 48 of the plate 20 is selectively engageable with the teeth of the sector substantially as shown, whereby the position of the lever with respect to the sector may be varied as desired.

The plate 20 is also provided adjacent the upper end thereof with a further aperture 50, whereby the plate may be operatively connected by means of a suitable l nk 52 to a hand grip release 54 with which the lever I2 is equipped.

It is believed thatthe advantages and use of the invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing disclosure and, accordingly, further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. The combination of a lever provided with an elongated and longitudinally extending opening and with a recess adjacent one end of said opening, a latch plate extending transversely of said lever through said opening and being longitudinally slidable therein, a portion of said plate disposed in said opening being formed with a slot which extends beyond the opening to said recess whereby portions of the plate at the sides of said 'slot may slidably engage the opposite sides of said lever between said recess and said opening, a portion of said plate at one end of said slot being slidable in said recess, a compression spring positioned in said slot, one end of said spring engaging said plate and the remaining end thereof engaging said lever, and means on said lever for sliding said plate.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 in which said plate is provided with a slit extending from a marginal edge of the plate to one end of said slot, whereby a portion of the plate at one side of the slot constitutes an outwardly bendable keeper for retaining the plate in said opening.

3. In combination with a toothed sector and a lever pivotally mounted'at one side thereof and provided with an elongated opening, a latching device comprising a latch plate extending transversely of said lever through said opening and longitudinally slidable therein toward and away from said sector, a portion of said plate disposed in said opening being formed with a slot, a compression spring positioned in said slot, one end of said spring engaging said plate and the remaining end thereof engaging said lever, an end portion of said plate at one side of said lever being engageable with the teeth of said sector, a keeper element extending through said plate at the opposite side of said lever for retaining the plate in said opening. and means on said lever for sliding said plate out of engagement with said segment against the resiliency of said spring.

ROBERT H. MORROW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Fish Apr. 13, 1880 Player Jan. 3, 1893 Heisle'r May 25, 1915 Grunhut Jan. 27, 1925 Graves Feb. 2, 1932 Number 

